It's an age-old tale: You see a pair of shoes you absolutely love and insist on buying them, even though the fit isn't perfect, reasoning to yourself that you’ll be able

to wear them in. Unfortunately, according to podiatrist Jacqueline Sutera, DPM, a Vionic Innovation Lab member, this shoe-shopping philosophy is an absolute no-no, especially when you’ve got a wider foot.

“From the moment you try them on in the store, the shoes should fit comfortably and feel just right,” Sutera explains. “If they’re tight, try the next width up or a different style. Breaking shoes in damages feet in the process.” Luckily, finding sneakers that comfortably fit a wide foot isn’t that hard. According to Sutera, styles with adjustable straps and a more rounded or square-shaped toe box tend to better suit a wide foot. Many brands also allow shoppers to pick their preferred width (e.g., M for medium and W for wide).